Bone screening recommended for COPD veterans

Abstract

MedWire News: Male veterans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) should be screened for osteoporosis, say US researchers who found a high untreated prevalence of the disease in this population.

"Recent studies implicate [COPD] in the development of osteopenia/osteoporosis secondary to an inflammatory process independent of steroid use," explained presenting author Kathleen Ellstrom (Veterans Administration Loma Linda Healthcare System, California) in a press release. "Additionally, the use of steroids for exacerbations in lung disease place patients at increased risk."

Advertisement

The team recommended dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) screening for all patients referred to a Veteran Affairs pulmonary rehabilitation program; over a 2-year period bone mineral density (BMD) was determined in 43 of 46 eligible patients with COPD (80%), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (16%), or asthma (4%).

All but 2% of the veteran patients were male, and the average age was 69 years. Most patients were White (72%), 17% were Black, and 11% were Hispanic/Latino.

Overall, 63% of patients had an abnormal DXA scan result, with 78% diagnosed with osteopenia, and 22% with osteoporosis. The risk for low BMD was significantly associated with disease severity, the researchers report.